County consultant recommends shifting MWBE program toward broader SBE certification and stronger compliance

Delisa Cliff, the county's MWBE consultant, gave a program review and recommended a series of operational changes and policy shifts aimed at increasing participation by locally based small businesses.

Cliff told the board the county's MWBE policy (adopted in 2012) had two core objectives: increase participation by minority- and women-owned businesses and provide technical assistance so smaller firms can bid on county contracts. She said the current policy attaches a 13 percent subcontractor participation goal to construction projects over $100,000 but that certification requirements and access to capital have become barriers for local firms.

"Ready, willing, and able" were the terms Cliff used to describe what firms need to be considered viable subcontractors; she said many local firms are willing but not ready because they lack financing, certification, or experience to bid. Cliff recommended three principal changes: (1) transition from an MWBE-only program to an SBE (Small Business Enterprise) model to broaden eligibility; (2) build a local certification arm to increase certified small-business participation; and (3) improve tracking and compliance by investing in technology and requiring better flow of pay requests so subcontract payments can be captured in a centralized repository.

Cliff also recommended increased training, technical assistance, and stronger prime-contractor accountability (including verifying that claimed subcontractors perform the work). She said some specialized projects remain difficult to attach MWBE goals to and suggested stakeholder engagement sessions to bring prime contractors and subcontractors together.

Commissioners asked about measurable outcomes and reporting; Cliff said the county lacks a single centralized repository of subcontracting payments and therefore cannot produce a full "report card" without changes to reporting or finance processes. She proposed a next-step roadmap to align procurement, finance, and diversity programs; host stakeholder sessions; and return with an implementation plan and quarterly updates.

The presentation prompted supportive comments from commissioners who said they wanted the program to capture more local spending without unduly excluding prime contractors from bidding. Commissioners asked staff to work with Cliff on a work plan and timeline and to include commissioner participation in stakeholder sessions.

Direct quotes in this article come from the meeting transcript and are attributed to the speakers listed below.